What are the best neigborhoods in Los Angeles?

For a close commute to downtown, Mount Washington and Eagle Rock are great neighborhoods to live in. Not as pricey and hip as Silverlake, but unique and artsy all the same. Lots of trees - and everybody has a back yard. The Eagle Rock community is especially active in organizing neighborhood events.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mt._Washington%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Rock%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California